Retractable spanning rail and blast door arrangement



Aug. 20, 1963 M. o. JACOBSON EI'AI. 3,101,026

RETRACTABLE SPANNING RAIL AND BLAST DOOR ARRANGEMENT Filed June 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2 R 22 NVE/vrms Melvin 0. Jacobson Ber/ram J. Maison Palmer 6. Wermag er BX W W 2 AZ TORNEYS AGENT Align), 1963 M. o. JACOBSON EIAI. 3,

RETRACTABLE SPANNING RAIL AND BLAST DOOR ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1961 FIG. 3

Aug. 20, 1963 M. o. JAcoBsoN ETAL 3,101,026

RETRACTABLE SPANNING RAIL AND BLAST DOOR ARRANGEMENT Filed June 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet s M. o. JACOBSON ET AL 3,101,026

RETRACTABLE SPANNING RAIL AND BLAST DOOR ARRANGEMENT Aug. 20, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1961 vm N QQ United States Patent This invention relates generally to conveyor systems, and more particularly it pertains to a conveyor rail which is extensible through a doorwa such as;a spanning rail extending through a pair of blast doors.

The spanning rail and blast doorsof this invention are part of a loader for a guided missile launching system as described and illustrated in a co-pending US. patent application, Serial No. 848,163, filed Oct. 22, 1959 by Myron J. Bauer et al. for Guided Missile Launching System.

In the open position, the blast doors allow passage of missile weapons from a loader rail onto a launcher rail when loading, or from the launcher rail to the loader rail when the missile weapons are being unloaded. In the closed position, the blast doors protect the interior of a deckhouse from the blast of the exhaust gases from the booster of the missile weapon as Well as from adverse weather.

'It is an object of this invention to provide a conveyor rail which can be effectively extended through a doorway to pass objects therealong between two spaced stations and which can be retracted with its doors to close and seal the doorway.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a spanning rail and blast doors which work together to bridge a gap between a missile weapon loader and the end of a guide arm of a missile weapon launcher.

Another object of this invention is to provide a missile weapon conveying spanning rail which retracts compactly into a trunk section of a missile weapon loader above the rails thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spanning rail and blast door arrangement which is operable by a common hydraulic power piston at an automatically controlled speed. t s

Other objects and many of the attendant advantagesof this invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FlG. l is a dimetric view of the retractable spanning rail and blast doors of this invention;

FIG. 2. is a dimetric view of a guided missile Weapon launcher and adjacent deckhouse between which missile weapons are transferred ineither direction; 7

FIG; 3 is a dimetric View of a blast door arrangement with a portion of the loader trunk shown in dashed lines to illustrate the relation therebetween;

FIG. 4 is a detailed dimetric view of a spanning rail and a part of a trunk sectionof a missile weapon loader partly skeletonized for clarity;

. FIG. 5 is acontinuation to the rightof the dimetric View of FIG. 4; and I f i FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic operating and related components for the spanning rail and blast doors arrangement.

Referring now to the details of the drawings in FIGS. 1 to 6, the retractable spanning rail is designated generally throughout the drawings by reference numeral 10. As shown best in FIG. 1, this spanning rail 10 is part of a ice through a door frame 14 provided in an opening 15 in the bulkhead of a deckhouse 16. In extending, the spanning rail 10 opens a pair of blast doors 1% and bridges the gap between the deckhouse l6 and one guide arm of a pair of guide arms 23 of a dual missile weapon launcher 22 as best illustrated in FIG. 2.

In practice, two loaders 12 forming a missile Weapon feeder with their associated spanning rail 10 and blast doors 18 are used so that both guide arms it} of the dual launcher 22 may be loaded at one time, either simul-' taneously or alternately. For the purposes of this invention, however, it is necesary to describe only one of the loaders s12 briefly.

Missile weapons 24, consisting usually of a missile and a booster connected thereto, are suspended by spaced fore and. aft shoeson the booster and moved on rails 26 on these launcher guide arms Ztl and on similar rails 28 and 36 provided on the loader l2 and the spanning rail ill,

which are all. in continuous alignment when the latter is extended as shown best in FIG. 1.

The loader 12, although it has a number of trunk sections, has three trunk sections 32., 34, and 36 which are associated with the spanning rail ill and which are supported from the overhead structure 38 of the deckhouse 16. The blast doors 18 connect through operating links as to the forward end of the spanning rail 10. The base end of spanning rail 10, in turn, is linked to a long power piston 42 which is attached to the trunk section 36 so that both blast doors i8 and the spanning rail it function mechanically as one unit. Power for movement of the components is furnished by a conventional accumulator, not shown, which ports hydraulic pressure to a power piston 4.2. housed within the trunk section 36.

loader 12 of a missile weapon feeder for a guided missile launching system, which is intended to extend and retract The door frame 14 is a square-shaped wcldment which is set into the opening 15 which is covered by the blast doors 1% when the doors are in a closed position. These blast doors l8 swing outward each on a Vertical pair of hinges 44 along their outboard edges within the frame 14 and which are completely hidden from the outside of the deckhouse 16 when the blast doors 1% are closed as shown best in PEG. 3.

In accordance with a co-pending patent application entitled Blast Door Seal inventedby Melvin O. Jacobson and Palmer G. Wermager, Serial No. 106,422, filed April 27, 1961, now -U.S. Patent 3,075,254, along the outer most edges where the frame 14 and doors 18 come together, blast seals are formed by adjoining surfaces machined to close tolerances. lust within the perimeter formed by the blast seals, recesed grooves holding rubberized strips behind the blast edgings protect the interior of the deckhouse 116. These special rubberized seals are also installed full-length along the blast doors 18 where the leading edges meet during closure of the blast doors 18.

Between the top of each blast door 18 and the spanning rail ill, the previously mentioned operating links 46 mechanically coordinate the movement during the opening or closing movement of the doors. When the spanning rail it is latched in the extendedposition as shown in BIG. 1, the operating links 4t) hold the blastdoors if firmly in an open position. When the blast door-s 18 are type socket joint 46. These socket joints 46 allow angular movement between the spanning rail ll) and the blast doors is during operation, and thus act as a pair of cornpensating push-pull rods.

' FIG. 3 shows how the upper and lower latches Mind 52 hold the blast doors 1% closed. The latches 50 and 52 are of a spring-loaded, hydraulically released type and are mounted on a vertical centerline of the frame 14.

spanning rail 10'.

arouses Each latch 50 or 52 is wide enough to capture a roller 54 from both blast doors 13 as they close and engage.

Each blast door 18 has its own rollers E l mounted in brackets 56 located inside the blast doors 1%, which engage the frame-mounted latches 5t) and 52 whenever the blast doors 18 are closed.

These blast doors 13 are kept from possible misalignment by 'stiifeners and steel reinforcements placed around the-perimeter of each. A recessed groove and wedge-shaped lip(not shown) run full length in the right and left blast doors v1'8, respectively, and mate in tight engagement when the blast doors 18 are closed.

As shown best in PEG. 4, the spanning rail 16 is an elongated hollow steel bar structure. Two cam tracks 63 and 62 are located within the railltl on each side thereof and run horizontally for approximately half its length before curving upwardly. These cam tracks 6t) and s2. slide on rollers 64 which are mounted within the trunk sections 32 and 34. Shafts 66 on which these rollerst-urn, extend through the spanning rail 10, while the cam tracks 60 and 62 ride on these rollers 64, and provide the upward and backward motion needed to cause the rails. 3'1 of the spanning rail 10 to clear the rails 28 of the loader and thenslide back thereover. 7

Nylon bumper pads and a positioner spud 63 provided on the forward-end of the spanning rail 19' engage the rear end of the guide arniZh of the launcher 22 to provide positive alignment of rails 39 and 26 in the extended condition of FIG. 1;

.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base end of the spanning rail 10 is fastened to the piston rod 70 of a power piston 42 by means of an adjustable link 72. A latch block74 is provided on top of the base end of spanning V rail 19 to act as a snubber for a spanning rail latch 76.

This snubbing action secures the spanning rail 10 when it is extended and thus also holds the blast doors 18 open. 7 7

Between the rails 28 of trunk section 34, there is provided a positioner or actuator arm 80; shown best in FIG. 6. This arm 80- is extended downwardly by means of a cammed lever 7-8 when the latter is disengaged by the retracted position of the spanningv rail 10 as shown in FIG. 6. When so extended, the actuator arm 80 is in the path of an accidently moved missile weapon 24 and r will be tripped thereby to move a loader safety shut-off interlock valve 32 whichis suitably connected tothe drive mechanism of the loader 1.2. When the spanning rail: It? extends and the rail continuity is restored, the

lever 73 lifts the actuator arm 86) clear so that a missile weapon 24- is allowed to continue to the left onto the IAs shown best in =FlGS.-

ton 42 extends the spanning railltl, a sliding cam track 84 which is yoked to the end of the piston rod 70 is drawn alongside thepower piston 42 by the piston rod 70. A cam roller 86 which is attached to a spring-loaded servo valve 83 in a valve block Qtl rides on this cam track 84-. As shown in FIG. t. the cam follower, roller 36 opens or closes this servo valve 88, which, in conjunction with a *The previously mentioned upper andlower latches 5d and "52 for the blastdcons 13 as shown in M68. 3 and 6, are alike, one being mounted inverted with respect to the other. Each latch Strand 52 consists of a latch bracket 'fie fastened to the door frame 14. A hookdike latch block 9S' -and a spring-loaded latch piston ltltlare attached together by means of a linkage 14312, as best shown in 6, by suitable pivot pins; Along the side of each latch "50hr 52, a spring-loaded lever lil isctuates electrical interlock switches 1% to provide status indications as to whether the blast doors 1% are closed and latched. r

The pistons 1% of the latches 5d and 52 in addition to releasing their latch blocks 98 also act as sequence valves and are hydraulically connected together as shown in FIG. 6 toinsure that both the latch blocks 98 are in a full retract position beforepressure fluid from the accumulator is ported to the power piston 42 for an extend stroke.

As previously mentioned, the spanning rail latch 76, as

shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is located above the aft end of the spanning rail 101 Its operation through. a jointed. linkage 1% causes the spanning rail 16 to be held fast against the bottom portion of the trunk section 34. One end of the linkage M38 is attached to a piston litlwhile the other end isfastened to a latch striker 112, This striker 112 is joined toa spring-loaded pivot 114. The

previously mentioned latch block 74 on the spanning rail lit) rides forward and trips the latch 76 which secures the spanning rail 1%} in an extended position.

Latch operation is also supplemented by an L-snaped lever 116, as shown best in FIG. 6, to trip an interlock switch 118 and an interlock valve 129 to prevent operation of the loader. 12 unless the blast doors'lS are open spaced loader and launcher equipped with alignabele-missile 1 supporting rails, a retractable spanning rail and blast door arrangement comprising an elongated spanning rail for spanning the space between said loader and launcher rails, means to slidingly support the spanning rail, a mounting frame a pair of blast doors pivota'lly rnounted in said frame for safeguarding a l'l'llSSllfiJOIl, said loader from sm'd launcher, a hydraulicrpiston'having a piston rod, I

a link pivotally connected to one end of the spanning rail and tosarid piston rodeonhecting means joining the other end of the spanning rail and the blast doors,-and control means, said control means including a fluid metering valve, a servo valve in fluid communication withthe metering valve and the hydraulic pi'ston'acam track carried by andmovab'le with said piston rod, piston means disposed withinsaid servo valve for controlling the-flow of fluid tofand from the hydraulic piston as the piston .means'rnoves from ;an open position to a closed position, .aroller carried by said piston means engageable with the cam track for moving the piston means to and from said positions, said servo and metering valvescooperating to control the ilow'of fluid into the hydraulic piston thereby to control the rate of speed at which the hydraulic piston moves the spanning rail through its" support.

2. Thearnangement of claim 1 and further comprising a limit switch, said switch including a pivotally mounted actuating lever movable into open-able engagement with said switch, a movably mounted spring loaded member in engagement with said actuating lever for moving the lever f into operable engagement with the switch, striker means i pivotally connected to said spring; loaded member for r moving said-member, roller means on the spanning rail :engage'able withsaid strikermeansfor actuating thestniker, means thereby terminating the sliding movement. of. the; spanning rail, a fluid operated valve means pivotally con- 1 nected tothe actuatinglever for moving the lever out of v engagement the switch. H a

3. Thearnangement of claim 2 and further comprising hydraulically actuated latches for the blast doors, each of the latches including fluid actuated devices in the hy-,

v draulic pressure system and actuated concurrently with l the actuation of the hydraulic system, spring biased pisa closed position and for releasing the doors for move ment to an open position concurrently with the actuation of the hydraulic piston.

4. In a missile launcher system of the type having a.

spaced loader and launcher each equipped with missile supporting rails, a retractable spanning rail and blast door arrangement comprising an elongated spanning rail for spanning the space between said loader and launcher rails, rollers for supporting the spanning rail, a pair 1 of blast doors on said loader for safeguarding a missile on said loader from said launcher, a hydraulic pressure system, a power piston connected to the hydraulic system and to the rearward end of the spanning rail, connecting means joining the forward end of the spanning rail and the blast doors, a cam surface attached to and movable with the power piston, and a cam follower niding on the cam surface, a spring biased servo valve included in the hydraulic system in fluid communication with the power piston, said cam follower activating said servo valve in the hydraulic system :whereby the power piston rolls the spanning rail forward and simultaneously opens the blast doors, a metering valve in the hydraulic system in fluid communication with the servo valve for controlling the rate of speed at which the power piston functions, thereby to control the forward movement of the spanning rail. l

5. The arrangement of claim 4 and further comprising a fluid actuated valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic system, a spring loaded element mounted along the top of the spanning rail, a i atch striker connected to said spring loaded element, connecting means joining the latch striker with said valve in the hydraulic system, and a latch block at the extremity of the spanning rail engage able with said latch striker for securing the spanning rail whcnthe rail has reached its extended position.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 and further comprising an additional fluid actuated valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic system, a second means operable by said spring loaded element and pivotally connected to said additional fluid actuated valve in the hydraulic system whereby operation of the retnact-able rail and blast doors with a weapons loader is prevented unless the blast doors are open and the spanning rail is latched.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 and further comprising latch means for each of the blast'doors, latch pistons having piston rods, pivotally mounted latch blocks, linkages pivotally connected to said latch blocks and to said piston rods, roller means on the door and engageable with said latch blocks for latching said door as the latch pistons are actuated by the fluid pressure, and means connecting the latch pistons to the hydraulic system, whereby activation of the hydraulic system causes the power piston to move the spanning railand at the same time unlatch and open the blast doors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,607 Du Bois May 15, 19 23 2,218,684 Murray et tal Oct. 22, 1940 2,414,301 Harris Ian. 14, 1947 3,054,330 Carlberg Sept. 18, 1962 

1. IN A MISSILE LAUNCHER SYSTEM OF THE TYPE HAVING A SPACED LOADER AND LAUNCHER EQUIPPED WITH ALIGNABLE MISSILE SUPPORTING RAILS, A RETRACTABLE SPANNING RAIL AND BLAST DOOR ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SPANNING RAIL FOR SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID LOADER AND LAUNCHER RAILS, MEANS TO SLIDINGLY SUPPORT THE SPANNING RAIL, A MOUNTING FRAME, A PAIR OF BLAST DOORS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR SAFEGUARDING A MISSILE ON SAID LOADER FROM SAID LAUNCHER, A HYDRAULIC PISTON HAVING A PISTON ROD, A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE END OF THE SPANNING RAIL AND TO SAID PISTON ROD, CONNECTING MEANS JOINING THE OTHER END OF THE SPANNING RAIL AND THE BLAST DOORS, AND CONTROL MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A FLUID METERING VALVE, A SERVO VALVE IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE METERING VALVE AND THE HYDRAULIC PISTON, A CAM TRUCK CARRIED BY AND MOVABLE WITH SAID PISTON ROD, PISTON MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SERVO VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID TO AND FROM THE HYDRAULIC PISTON AS THE PISTON MEANS MOVES FROM AN OPEN POSITION TO A CLOSED POSITION, A ROLLER CARRIED BY SAID PISTON MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CAM TRACK FOR MOVING THE PISTON MEANS TO AND FROM SAID POSITIONS, SAID SERVO AND METERING VALVES COOPERATING TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FLUID INTO THE HYDRAULIC PISTON THEREBY TO CONTROL THE RATE OF SPEED AT WHICH THE HYDRAULIC PISTON MOVES THE SPANNING RAIL THROUGH ITS SUPPORT. 